Improvement in chronometer-escapement



tluitxl 'Swa- GEORGE P. REED, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 87,707, dated Mrz/rch 9, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHRONOMETER-ESCAPEMNT.

The Bcheule referred to in these Letters Patent and making paxt of the same.

To cil to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. REED, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk1 and State of Massachusetts, have made an invention of a certain new and useful Improvement in Ohronometer-Escapements; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactI description thereof, due reference being had-to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1- is a top or face representation, and

Figrn'e 2, an edge elevation of the detent-lever, and adjuncts, of a chronometer-escapement, showing the application of my invention thereto.

The object of my present invention is to simplify the construction of a watch, by dispensing with the coiled spring, now applied to the arbor of the detentlever of a chronometer-escapement, for returning the lever .back toits stop,.or banking-pin, as itis termed, and sodisposing the feather or lifting-spring of the escapement, as to cause it to perform both functions, in manner as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings above mentioned, as accompanying this specification, and illustrating my invention a denotes the detent-lever of a chronometer-escapement, and p 11, its pivot, or arbor, constructed and applied in the ordinary or any suitable manner, the banking-pin, for stop of such lever, being shown at c.

The feathenspring, which, in this instance, is a narrow and thin ribbon of metal, is shown, at d, as inserted within a saw-kerf, e, out within the face ogf the outer or free end of the detentlever, or an enlargement, f, thereof, the spring being 'retained in' place therein, by a screw, g, the head of which overlapsy its upper edge, as shown in the drawings, the Aerrd, ,h, of such spring, constituting the lifting-spring of the escapernent.

The above-described application of the spring to the detcr1tlever, is shown as claimed in United States Letters Patent, issued to me on the 7 th day of April, 1868, amlforms no part of my present invention, it being shown, in the present instance, as being in the form with which I shall probably combine my present inveution.

In carrying out the invention comprising the subject of this application, I dispense with the coiled spring, heretofore applied to the lower part of the arbor of the detentlever, for returning such lever back to its stop after the detent has passed the escape-wheel; and I increase the length of the feather-spring d to such an extent as to be able to bend its outer portion, a?, into the form ofa yoke, and extend the free end or armi of such yoke inwardly, and nearly parallel to ofthe detent-lever, as shown in the drawings, the ex-y tremityof this portion of the spring being extended through a large notch, or depression, k, made in the upper surface of the detent-lever, a screw, l, being secured to the lever, in such manner as to prevent displacement of the spring.

The inherent elasticity of the portion 'i of the spring, acting against the stud j. as represented, serves to maintain the detent-lever in place againstthe banking-pin c, as it is termed, except at such intermittent periods of time as it is lifted therefrom by the action of the pallet upon the end, h, of the spring, while the said end, h, of the spring serves, in the manner as shown in Letters Batent before referred to, to. perform this function of liing the lever.

As the stop j, which supports the return portion of the spring d, is situated in close proximity to the arbor, or fulcrum of the detent-lever, the lifting of such lever is very easily performed.

The employment of the ordinaryT coiled lockingspring entails the necessity of employing a collet, stud, and screw.

The use of my present invention dispenses with these parts, as well as with the spring itself, with a consequent reduction of the number of parts of a watch, as well as its cost, and with an increased far cility for repairing or manipulating the works of fsuch watch.

In addition to these advantages, however, one great value of my invention is the fact that the friction upon the datent-lever is reduced, and the function of such lever and its adjuncts, performed in a sensitive and perfect manner.

What I believe to be novel and original with myself, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1 The combination and relative positions of the spring a and stop or post j, with the detent-lever and axis b, whereby the force required to operate said lever is diminished,substantially in the manner described.

2. The screw I or its equivalent, applied to the detent lever a, as herein shown and set'forth, f or the purpose of preventing displacement of the-lockingpor tion a of the spring d, when removed from the watch.

p GEO. P. REED. Witnesses:

FRED. CURTIS, GEO. A. Lonnvc 

